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States Take on "Double Dipping" Retirees

(CBS/AP)
Some states are looking to prevent public employees from "double dipping" – collecting pension benefits while still holding a government job, according to a USA Today report Thursday.

In some areas, government employees are allowed to "retire" in order to begin collecting retirement benefits only to quickly return to work, and their normal paychecks. But for many states battered by the economy, that loophole must be closed.

While there are no exact figures on the number of "double dippers," some states have identified thousands, according to the report.

So far, Utah, New Mexico, South Dakota, Florida and Arkansas are looking to curb the practice through legislation – either through outright banning it or instituting a minimum length of time that employees must stay retired before returning to work.

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